North Carolina Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to Include Individuals Age 65 and Up – Moore County Still Working on Vaccinating Those Age 75+
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) announced Thursday that vaccine providers who are ready may begin vaccinating adults 65 years and older. The change comes in response to updated federal recommendations from earlier this week that called for prioritization of those in the 65+ age group.
The Moore County Health Department and FirstHealth of the Carolinas are excited that the state has expanded eligibility for the vaccine to residents 65 and older. However, the challenge remains the lack of available vaccine. Moore County does not have enough vaccine supply to vaccinate all eligible residents in the newly announced Group 2 expansion. Moore County providers continue to work through the list of those 75 years and older who are interested in receiving the vaccine, an effort that began in earnest on January 12.
The Moore County Health Department will look to expand its pre-registration criteria to include those who are 65 and older after more progress is made in working through the 75+ population. Details on when those changes will take place are forthcoming. As stated previously, due to limited vaccine availability, FirstHealth will continue to focus on scheduling residents 75 years old and older.
“The limiting factor continues to be vaccine supply,” say Health Director Robert Wittmann. “Right now, we have more people who need vaccine than we have vaccine to give”. “We ask everyone to remain patient and understand that it may take some time to schedule and vaccinate everyone who is eligible,” says Wittmann.
At this time, anyone 75 and older who is an established patient at any FirstHealth Primary Care clinic, Pinehurst Medical Clinic or other Moore County-based primary care clinic will receive a phone call from a clinic representative to schedule a vaccination appointment. Those clinics are being held at the Fair Barn in Pinehurst weekly as vaccine availability allows.
Individuals age 75 years or older may also pre-register anytime at moorecountync.gov/shot or by calling 910-947-SHOT (7468) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Individuals can then expect a phone call from a Health Department representative to schedule a vaccination appointment for an upcoming vaccine clinic being held at the Health Department in Carthage on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays for the month of January and beyond.
For more details about COVID-19 vaccination, please visit the Moore County COVID-19 Vaccination page or
www.firsthealth.org/shot.